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 Rue Essential
Oil ProfileRue is a genus of strongly scented evergreen subshrubs 20-60 cm tall, in the family Rutaceae, native to the Mediterranean region, Macaronesia and southwest Asia. The most well-known species is the Common Rue. The leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate, with a feathery appearance, and green to strongly glaucous blue-green in colour. The flowers are yellow, with 4-5 petals, about 1 cm diameter, and borne in cymes. The fruit is a 4-5 lobed capsule, containing numerous seeds. Twigs of rue were often used as a kind of bookmark in ancient times due to its strong scent and natural bug repellent properties. It was used extensively in middle eastern cuisine in olden days, but because it is very bitter, it is usually not suitable for most modern tastes. However, it is still used certain parts of the world, particularly in northern Africa. |
| Botanical Name: | Ruta graveolens L. |
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| Family: | Rutaceae |
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| Synonyms: | Garden rue, herb-of-grace, herbygrass. |
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| Parts Used: | Fresh herb |
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| Extraction Method: | Steam distillation |
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| Colour: | Yellow to orange |
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| Consistency: | Medium to thick. |
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| Aroma Description: | Sharp, herbaceous, fruity, acidic. |
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| Historical Uses: | In medieval times rue was much used as a drug; its use as a condiment was thought to prevent poisons from affecting the system. Rue was strewn about law courts in parts of Great Britain as a preventive against diseases carried by criminals. |
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| Modern Uses: | Not recommended for use for aromatherapy work, used as a source for methyl nonyl ketone, (used in cat and dog repellents). |
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| Cautions: | Oral toxin, Skin and mucous irritant, Aborifacient, neurotoxic, phototoxic, do not use in perfumes, flavourings or aromatherapy. |
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| Physical Actions |
| Antitoxic, antitussive, antiseptic, antispasmodic, diuretic, emmenagogue, insecticidal, nervine, rubefacient, stimulant, tonic, vermifuge. |
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| Toxicity |
LD50 - (oral) rat 2.5 - 5.0 g/kg. (dermal) rabbit >not known.
Irritation/Sensitisation - Not available
Phototoxicity - Not available
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